Artist Biographies

F. Usher DeVoll

1873 - 1941
Historical Rhode Island artist

DeVoll is one of those many important American painters who is enjoying
a resurgence of interest by collectors and researchers alike. Born
in Providence, he was a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design in 1896
and went on to
study at the Art Student’s League with W.M. Chase and Robert Henri.
Some time was also spent studying with Laurens in Paris. Among his colleagues
at RISD, who would go on to notable recognition in the art world, were
Eliza
Gardiner and Mabel May Woodward.

While DeVoll made Rhode Island his
home, he is best known for his paintings of New York street and harbor
scenes. Frequently he would travel to the empire
city huddling along its doorways and riding the Staten Island Ferry
to capture the city from the perspective of its every day inhabitants.
He found beauty
among the busy farmers market, looming bridges and nighttime skyline.
His thickly painted canvases have a movement and density common among
American Impressionists painters.

Devoll's work has been shown in all
the leading exhibitions in this country and he received the Silver
Medal in 1915 at the Panama-Pacific
Exposition at San Francisco. His works are in museum collections
such as RISD and at
the Delgado Museum in New Orleans. He was a member of a number
of fine art institutions including the Providence Art Club, the Providence
Water Color
Club, the Springfield Art Association and the American Artists
Professional
League.